Overflow-alarm.



,No. 593,425. Patented Feb. l8, I902. NICULET.

OVERFIQOW ALARM.- A l mi n filed. Aug. 20,1961.

2 Sheets-Slieet I.

(No Model.)

Fit}? S .INVENTOR'. ALBERT NIGGlET,

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES -ATENT FFICE.

ALBERT NICOLET, OF NEWARK, NEWV JERSEY.

OVERFLQW-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent to. 693,425, dated February 18, 1902.

Application filed August 20, 1901. .Serial No. 72,666. (No model.) I

To OLZZ whom it may concern):

Be it known that I, ALBERT NIcoLET, a citi-' zen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and'State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Overflow-Alarms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it a'ppertain's to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to numeralsof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference to overflowalarms; and the invention relates more particularly to a novel construction of overflowalarm adapted to be used in connection with the catch-basin or drip-pan of a refrigerator.

The invention has for its primary object to provide a novel and a simple as well as an effectively-operating means adapted to be em-. 'ployed directly with a refrigerator and with the drip-pan thereof, which serves as an indicator or annunciator that the water within the pan has reached a predetermined height, so thata person hearing the danger-signal shall know that the said drip-pan must be emptied of its water to avoid the danger of an overflow. I

Other objects of this invention willbe understood from the following specification of my invention.

.My invention therefore consists, primarily, in the novel construction of overflow-alarm for drip-pans for refrigerators to be hereinafter fullydescribed; and, furthermore, this invention consists in the several novel arrangements and combinations of the various parts, as well as in the details of the construction of such parts, all of which will be set forth in the following description of myinvention and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim, which are hereto appended.

My invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of an over-- flow-alarm for refrigerators embodying the principles of my present invention; and Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, illustrating the device secured in its attached position upon the bottom of a refrigerator. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the device,taken through line 3 3 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central vertical section of the device. Figs.

5 and 6 are perspective views of certain holding attachments to be employed with the device. Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said above-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

tially, of base-pieces or cleats 3, connecting a pair of longitudinally-extending vertical sides 4 and 5, and a back 6. The said side 5 is provided with one or more brackets 7, havinglips adapted to be inserted in the receiving parts of suitable loops 8, secured to the bottom 2 of the refrigerator, while the said side dis provided with a bracket 9, formed in its supporting-lip 10 with an elongated opening or slot 11, as represented in Fig. -1. Through this opening or slot 11 can be passed a turn-bar 13 of a fastening 12, and in this manner by means of these several fastenings the said supporting-frame can be readily suspended from the bottom of the refrigerator without interfering with the movement of the refrigerator should it become necessary to move the same from one place to another. By means of the said fasteners the said frame may also be detachably secured in its position against the under side of the said base 2.

Of course it will be understood that any desired forms of fasteners may be employed, .andthe supporting-frame is usually made of wood or any other suitable material which is a non-conductor of electricity.

Slidably and removably arranged between the sides 4: and 5 is a drip-pan 14, provided with a handle 15, the pan being made from metal, so as to be a good conductor of electricity. When the said pan 14 is in position, its back end or side 16 rests against the back 6, which acts as a stop to the inward movement'of said pan when placing it in position in the supporting-frame to receive the water from the melting ice in. the refrigerator.

The two longitudinal sides 4 and 5 are connected at or near the top by means of a suitable cross piece or bar 17, preferably of wood and suitably secured to its under surface is a bracket 18, provided with a bearing or bearings 19. In these bearings is a pin 20, from which extends a circuit-wire 21 to one pole of a suitable electric battery 22, which is secured in any manner against the outer surface of the longitudinal side 4. Connected with the other pole of said electric battery 22 isa wire 23, which is attached to one of the binding-posts of an electric bell 24 or other suitable signal or annunciator. Attached to the other binding-post of said bell 24 is a wire 25, the said wire being suitably connected with the one end of a contact-making bar or rod 26. This rod 26 extends through an opening in the side 4 of the frame and has its other end arranged in an oppositely-placed opening in the other side 5 of said frame, and when the drip-pan 14 has been placed in the supporting-frame then its metal bottom rests directly upon the said contact-making rod 26 for establishing an electric circuit in the manner and for the purposes to be presently described. Pivotally suspended from the said bolt 20 by means of an eye 27 or in any other suitable manner is a tubular rod 28. Adjustably held and secured in place within said tubular rod 28 by means of a fastening means 29, usually in the form of a set-screw, is a second rod 30, which is provided at the bottom with an enlargement 3l,forming a weight.

Attached to the inner surface of one of the sides of the drip-pan 14 by means of a hinge 32 or in any other desired manner is an arm or lever 33, of metal, which is suitably connected at its free end with a float 34, all of which will be clearly understood from an inspection of Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. From the said Figs. 3 and 4 it will be clearly seen that when the water in the tank or pan 14 rises to the level of a predetermined height the rising float 34 will bring the said armor lever 33 in contact with the under surface of the weight or enlargement 31 of the rod 30. Immediately a complete electrical circuit is made from the battery 22 through wire 21, the pin or bolt 20, the rods 28 and 30, the weight 31 upon the arm 30, the arm or lever 33 and its hinge 32,through the metal pan l4,the contact making bar 26, the wire 25, and bell 24, and finally, by means of the wire 23, with the battery 22. As soon as such electric circuit is completed the hell or other annunciator will begin to vibrate, and thereby announce the fact that it is time to remove the water from the drippan 14. The pivotal connection of the said arm or rod 28 and the parts connected therewith allows for a freely-swinging motion of these parts when brought in contact with the back end of the drip-pan as the latter is slid into position between the longitudinal sides of the supporting-frame or as said drip-pan is withdrawn from said frame to pour the water from the pan.

From the above description of my invention it will be clearly evident that I have devised a simply-constructed and effectively-operating device which can be employed as an alarmoverflow in connection with the drip-pans of refrigerators, ice-boxes, and the like, and, in fact, my invention can be used with any kinds of water-storage tanks or reservoirs to indi cate when the level of the water is at any previously-determined height.

I am fully aware that changes may be made in the arrangements and combinations of the various devices and that the details of construction may be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of my present invention. Hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the devices as described in the specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of any of the said parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an overflow-alarm, the combination, with an alarm and source of electrical energy, of a slidably-arranged receptacle adapted to receive water, a float in said receptacle, a tubular rod suspended above the said receptacle, so as to be capable of oscillation in a vertical plane when brought in contact with the edge of said receptacle,a second rod in said tubular rod, and means connected therewith for securing said second rod in its adjusted position in said tubular rod, all arranged to make electrical contact with said float, when the water reaches a predetermined height, for establishing an electric circuit through an alarm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In an overflow-alarm, the combination, with an alarm and source of electrical energy, of a slidably-arranged receptacle adapted to receive water, a float in said receptable, a tubular rod pivotally suspended above the said receptacle, so as to be capable of oscillation in a vertical plane when brought in contact with the edge of said receptacle, asecond rod in said tubular rod, and means connected therewith for securing said second rod in its adjusted position in said tubular rod, and a weight attached to said second rod, arranged to make electrical contact with said float, when the water reaches a predetermined height, for establishing an electric circuit through an alarm, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

3. In an overflow-alarm, the combination, with a slidably-arranged metal receptacle adapted to receive water, of a float in said receptacle, an arm secured at one end to said float, and at the other end said arm being pivotally secured to a side of the said receptacle, the said arm being a good conductor of electricity, and a rod pivotally suspended above the said receptacle, so as to be capable of oscillation in a vertical plane when brought in IIO contact with the edge of said receptacle, with which the first float-arm is adapted to make electrical contact, when the water reaches a predetermined height, for establishing an electric circuit through an alarm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In an overflow-alarm, the combination, with a slidably-arranged metal receptacle adapted to receive water, of a float in said renected'therewith for securing said second rod in its adjusted position in said tubular rod, all arranged to make electrical contact with the said float-arm, when the water reaches a predetermined height, for establishing an .electriclcircuit through an alarm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In an overflow-alarm, the combination, with a metal receptacle adapted to receive water, of a float in said receptacle, an arm secured at one end to said float, and at the other end said arm being pivotally secured to a side of the said receptacle, the said arm being a good conductor of electricity, a tubular rod pivotally suspended above the said receptacle, a second rod in said tubular rod and means connected therewith for securing said second rod in its adjusted position in said tubular rod, and a weight attached to said second rod, all arranged to make electrical contact with the said float-arm, when the water reaches a predetermined height, for establishing an electric circuit through an alarm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In an overflow-alarm, the combination, with a supporting-frame,an electric alarm and a source of electrical energy on said frame, of a receptacle slidably arranged in said frame, and adapted to receive Water, and means for establishing an electrical contact between the said receptacle and said frame for actuating the alarm, when the water in said receptacle has reached a predetermined height, consisting, essentially, of a float in said receptacle, and a rod pivotally suspended above the said receptacle and the float therein, and arranged to make electrical contact with the said float, the said float and said rod being in circuit with the source of electrical energy and the said electric alarm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In an overflow-alarm, the combination, with a supporting-frame,an electric alarm and a source of electrical energy on said frame, of a receptacle slidably arranged in said frame, and adapted to receivewater, and means for establishing an electrical contact between the said receptacle and said frame for actuating the alarm, when the water in said receptacle has reached a predetermined height, consist ing, essentially, of a float in said receptacle, and a tubular rod pivotally suspended in the said supporting-frame and above the said receptacle and float therein, a second rod in said tubular rod and means connected therewith for securing said second rod in its adjnsted position in said tubular rod, the said second rod being adapted to make electrical contact with the said float, the said float and said rod being in circuit withthe source of electrical energy and the said electric alarm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In an overflow-alarm, the combination, with a supporting-frame,an electric alarm and a source of electrical energy on said frame, of a receptacle slidably arranged in said frame, and adapted to receive water, and means for establishing an electrical contact between the said receptacle and said frame for actuating the alarm, when the water in said receptacle has reached a predetermined height, consisting, essentially, of a float in said receptacle, an arm secured at one end to said float, and at the other end said arm being pivotally secured to a side of said receptacle, the said arm being a good conductor of electricity, a tubular rod suspended above the said receptacle, a second rod in said tubular member, and means connected therewith for securing the rod inits adjusted position in said tubular rod, the said second rod being adaptedto make electrical contact with the said floatarm, the said parts all being arranged in circuit with the source of electrical energy and the said electric alarm, substantially as. and for the purposes set forth.

9. In an overflow-alarm, the combination, with a supporting-frame,an electric-alarm and a source of electrical energy on said frame, of a receptacle slidably arranged in said frame, and adapted to receive water, and means for establishing an electrical contact between the said receptacle and said frame for actuating the alarm, when the water in said receptacle has reached a predetermined height, consisting, essentially, of a float in said receptacle, an arm secured at one end to said float, and at the other end said arm being pivotally secured to a side of said receptacle, the said arm being a good conductor of electricity, a tubular rod suspended above the said receptacle, a second rod in said tubular member, and means connected therewith for securing the rod in its adjusted position in said tubular rod and a weight upon the lower end of the said second rod adapted to make electrical contact with the said float=arm, the said parts all being arranged in circuit with the source of electricity and the electric alarm, substantially as and J for the purposes set forth.

10. In an overflow-alarm, the combination,

with a supporting-frame,a source of electricity and an electric alarm on said frame, of a metalhc receptacle on said frame, and a contact- IZi making rod in said frame upon which the said receptacle is relnovably placed, and means connected with said rod and the said receptacle for establishing a complete electric circuit through said receptacle, the rod, the electric source and the electric alarm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of August, 1901.

ALBERT NICGLET.

Witnesses:

FREDK. G. FRAENTZEL,- Gno. D. RICHARDS. 

